Nasarawa targets 985, 788 for malaria treatment

Nasararawa state government says it has provided anti-malaria drugs for over 985, 788 children and pregnant mothers .

State commissioner of health Dr. Gaza Gwamna disclosed this at a press briefing of the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) round four on Tuesday in Lafia.

He explained that the state government targets 985, 788 eligible populations, especially children under five years in 2024 to be administered the malaria drugs in its effort to reduce the prevalence to zero per cent.

He said the efforts towards eliminating malaria in the state have helped in reducing its spread to less than 15 per cent in the last five years.

The commissioner explained that the feat in the fight against the scourge under the SMC initiative was supported by the Malaria Consortium (MC).

Malaria Consortium is one of the largest international non-profit organisations working towards the elimination of malaria and other infectious diseases in Africa, Asia, and America.

โ€œFrom the creation of the state the burden of malaria used to be 60 percent, but was reduced to 30 per cent in 2019 and now 15 per cent,โ€ he added.

The commissioner called on residents of the state to regularly go for malaria tests to ascertain their status before treatment to avoid complications.

Gwamna said since the disease was responsible for the death of many people, the state government was investing towards eliminating it.

He warned therefore, not all fevers are malaria-related and advised residents against self-medication to guard against complications.

Gwamna therefore, advised residents to visit any health facility in the state for testing and subsequent treatment if tested positive. Just as he called on the public to sleep under treated mosquito nets, saying that such practice is currently the best method to prevent malaria.